May 3, 2006

Fishing at Shabbona

18"

I went out for a morning trip today. I launched the boat when the park opened and was home for lunch. Water temp was 58 degrees and the clarity less than a foot. I threw several different baits today, but the best pattern was blue/chrome Rat-L-Traps in 3-4 feet of water around new weed growth. Best fish was 20 inches, followed by a 19 incher, an 18 incher, a 17.5 incher, and then a variety of 10-14 inchers ( 2 dozen??) The 18 incher was my favorite. He was especially chucky, very grouchy, and the best looking fish, so that's why he got the top picture !!! (the 20 incher had that "Buffalo Hump" that some old males get, and the 19 incher had a scar on his side) All of the Bass have fattened up over the past 2 weeks, and are well on their way to being Butterballs for the spawn next month.

20" 19" 17.5"

PS. I also had something Huge hooked for about 3 seconds up in the east Bay. It was Huge and Really Fast, I never saw it, but it was either a nice muskie or a mega-giant carp in about 4 feet of water. It hammered by rod, almost taking it out of my hands, then circled the boat, swimming about 50 feet in a few seconds (WAY TOO fast for a bass or catfish of any size), then nothing, gone !!??!!!.....one prong of my front Rat-L-Trap hook was completely straightened.

Good Luck Everybody

See you on the water.

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